Environment & Regeneration
Scrutiny Committee
7th June 2007
Policy on waste/recycling
collections
Stephen Jones
Divisional Manager Streetscene and Waste
Need for a policy..
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To allow Members to set a clear and
consistent standard for all refuse services
across the County
To allow Officers to provide a cost effective
service based on the policy
To allow the Authority to raise awareness of
the policy and procedures with the residents
of the County
To allow the call centre staff to deliver the
right message in respect of County policy
Provide guidelines and legal framework for
future enforcement
Existing position… Background
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Emphasis in Wrexham is on recycling
WCBC provides a wholly ‘enclosed bin’ service (i.e.
wheelie bins)
WCBC provides a weekly recycling collection service
There is no limit to the number of recycling
boxes/bins provided and emptied (is this publicised
sufficiently?)
WCBC provides a fortnightly residual waste
collection
WCBC is the only Authority in Wales, and only one
of 20 across the Country who provide this level of
service
Existing position… Background
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Other North Wales Authorities are
considering changing to system operated by
WCBC
Approximately 92% of properties are now
included on recycling rounds
Area’s not involved include properties mainly
on rural unclassified roads in Burton, the
Outskirts of Ruabon, Rhos, Chirk, Halton,
Minera Mountain, Erbistock and parts of the
Ceiriog Valley – see map
What can and can’t be
recycled
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Recyclables
Tins (and lids) – plastics – glass –
Not recyclables
Butter and yoghurt containers – lids
from bottles – cardboard (can be
taken to recycling centres)
Residents Responsibilities
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Residents must present their bins and
recycling receptacles by 7:30am, but no
earlier than the evening before.
The collection point is either where the
private property meets the pavement or
where a designated collection point has
been pre-arranged with the Supervisors
The correct materials must be in each
receptacle
There must be no contamination.
Residents’ Responsibilities
Residents are invited to contact us for
 Additional recycling boxes and sacks.
 If they are a family of 8 or more and require
an additional capacity 240 litre rubbish bin.
 If they would like a visit from a Recycling
Officer to advise further on recycling and
how to minimise their rubbish
The Crews’ Responsibilities
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Recycling and Refuse Crews should return the wheeled bins,
boxes and sacks to the collection point
The lid of wheeled bins must be shut
The bins and boxes must not block access to the property
Stickers must be placed on the container to indicate a
problem
To place the lids inside the boxes once emptied
To place the empty sack back in the box or in a secure
position so it will not blow away (e.g. through a gate/handle
of the box)
To leave ‘Thank you’ flyers in full boxes offering additional
boxes/sacks.
Clear up any spillages with brush and shovel provided.
Areas Requiring Policy
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Assisted collections
Overloaded bins
Side waste
Heavy bins
Provision of larger capacity bins or
additional bins to larger households
Enforcement
Service provision at multi level properties
(flats)
Assisted Collections
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Currently if all residents within a household
are physically or mentally unable to present
the wheeled bin and/or box and sack for
collection
The crews must collect the bin/box from the
house and return it to the same place once
emptied.
Application forms are available from the
Environment Department Call Centre on
Tel. 01978 292044.
Overloaded bins
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Three options
Refuse to empty bin
Empty bin as normal, note address
and contact
Remove overload, empty bin and
replace overload in bin. Leave note to
inform of policy
Advantages/Disadvantages
– Not emptying bin
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Advantages
Gets the message across
Disadvantages
Bad publicity
Public health issues
Risk of loosing residents commitment
to recycling
Remove overload, empty bin and
replace overload in bin. Leave note to
inform of policy
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Advantages
Good publicity
Cleaner streets
Delivers recycling message
Disadvantages
Prolongs the time taken to complete
the round
Advantages/Disadvantages –
Empty bin as normal note address
and contact
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Advantages
Good publicity
Cleaner streets
Disadvantages
Fails to deliver recycling message
Costly in tipping and potential WAG
fines
Side Waste
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Options
Empty bin only
Empty bin and side waste, note
address and contact resident
Empty bin, load side waste in bin.
Leave note to inform of policy
Serve FPN after 3 ‘yellow cards’
Advantages/Disadvantages
Empty bin only
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Advantages
Gets the message across
Reduced waste disposal costs
Disadvantages
Public health issues
Risk of loosing residents commitment to
recycling
Bad publicity
Advantages/Disadvantages - Empty
bin and side waste, note address and
contact resident
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Advantages
Good publicity
Cleaner streets
Disadvantages
Fails to deliver recycling message, once
residents see WCBC clear the side waste
they may not embrace recycling, and the
situation will get worse
Costly in tipping and potential WAG fines
Advantages/Disadvantages - Empty
bin, load side waste in bin. Leave note
to inform of policy
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Advantages
Good publicity
Cleaner streets
Delivers recycling message
Disadvantages
Additional cost for collection through
increased route time
Heavy Bins
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Two options
Empty bin
Don’t empty bin, leave note
Advantages/Disadvantages –
Empty Bin
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Advantages
Good publicity
Clean streets
Disadvantages
Does not promote recycling
Increases tipping costs
Risk of injury to operatives
Advantages/Disadvantages –
Don’t empty Bin
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Advantages
Promotes the recycling agenda
Reduces risk of injury to operatives
Disadvantages
May encourage fly tipping
Provision of larger capacity
bins to large households
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Existing arrangement allow a house
with 8 or more residents to have an
additional bin
Other options considered in this report
Provide a second bin to household
with 6 or more residents
‘8 or more’ system
Advantages
 Forces all families, especially larger ones to recycle. Note: No
restriction on number of recycling boxes
Keeps down tipping costs
 Easier to administer
Disadvantages
 If people can’t cope, they may well give up and refuse to
recycle at all!
 Increased fly tipping as the excess waste is disposed of
illegally, although current figures does not suggest the
problem is increasing since the introduction of the recycling
initiative
 Houses of Multiple occupancy (HMO’s) may have some willing
participants and some who are not
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‘6 or more’ system
Advantages
 If residents are able to cope they may be more
willing to participate
 Reduces the chance of fly tipping,
 Good public relations, especially as waste collection
generally is currently receiving ‘bad press’
Disadvantages
 Increased landfill costs
 Increase administration costs
 Could remove the ’need’ and therefore the
motivation to recycle
Increased costs of a
‘6 or more’ system
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We need firstly to establishing the
number of properties involved
There are two types of property
One family properties with 6 or more
family members
HMO’s with 6 or more residents
Establishing number of
households with 6 or more
family members
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From the 2001 census, it is shown that
1.6% of Wrexham homes have 6 or
more residents
In the intervening years, whilst
individual families might have altered
circumstances, the overall percentage
across the Authority will be constant
Establishing number of
HMO’s
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No up to date figures exist on the
number of HMO’s
The 2001 census showed 1.6% of
WCBC property’s were capable or
already housing multiple occupants
It is fair to assume that (at least) all of
these properties are now multioccupied and by more than 6 people
Establishing number of
properties with 6 or more
residents
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1.6% of properties with 6 or more
family members
1.6% of properties with Multiple
occupants of 6 or more
Total of 3.2% of properties have 6 or
more residents
This totals 1728 properties
Cost of a ‘6 +’ service
Two elements
 Provision and delivery of bin £43k. (WCBC could
make a charge which would recover some of these
costs)
 Annual additional disposal costs £53k
The PFI initiative will allow cardboard and kitchen
waste to be placed in the recycling (green) bin. This
will result in 62% of all household waste being able
to be recycled. Once the PFI bid is delivered the
larger bins could be removed
Statistics
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Incidents of fly tipping have actually fell
from 558 in 2005/6 to 437 in 2006/7
Incidents of black bag fly tipping (containing
household waste) has increased from 137 in
2005/6 to 278 in 2006/7
We have received just 15 requests for larger
bin capacity in the last 6 months, 3 of which
would not qualify under either arrangement,
as there was less than 6 in the household
Enforcement
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With WCBC policy in place
enforcement can be considered for the
following
Overloaded or bins with material left
along side – side waste
Failure to recycle
Policy on multi level
properties (flats)
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Because of the problems of storage, and
carrying boxes/bags down stairwells,
recycling facilities are not provided to
properties above ground floor level without
request
A ‘bring’ recycling centre is provided on
each site
The level of participation is lower at these
properties